Record enrolment for the fall semester 2015/16

This year the bbw University of Applied Sciences had the highest enrolment rate to date and it was able begin the new fall semester with nearly all of its scheduled programmes of study. For the first time, the programmes being offered included the new Master's programme in Real Estate Project Management.

After the bbw University of Applied Sciences was able to enrol around 50 working men and women in part-time programmes two weeks ago, more than 250 full-time students joined the student body at the 'Haus der Wirtschaft' campus in Berlin on 6 October. 'These have been record numbers for our university of applied sciences since its founding in 2007,' remarked Jürgen Weiß, the Chancellor of bbw University of Applied Sciences . In the current fall 2015/16 semester, nearly all of the Bachelor's and Master's programmes of study being offered by bbw University of Applied Sciences in Berlin and Brandenburg will begin as scheduled. For the first time, the university is also offering a new Master's programme in Real Estate Project Management.

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In his welcoming speech the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gebhard Hafer, described the similarities between studying and running a marathon, 'whose goal seems quite far off in the distance at the beginning'. However, he stressed 'anyone who is well prepared and makes every effort to persevere has a good chance of finishing their Master's degree in 4 semesters or their Bachelor's degree in 6 semesters.' Studying at university is like running a 42,195 kilometre marathon. The university programmes are divided into modules that can be taken one after the other and completed with examinations much like kilometre demarcations.' He assured the newly matriculated students, 'The professors, the other teaching staff and the university staff will be very reliable "race marshals" along their way as they strive towards obtaining a university degree. We offer programmesthat are exceedingly hands-on and closely linked to business interests, limited group sizes and good career guidance, so that graduates start thinking about the start of their careers in time. And we always assign students advisers whose doors are always open for answering any subject-related or organisational questions. Our open-door policy is relatively unique to bbw University of Applied Sciences.' Lastly, the Vice-Chancellor explained that the quality of bbw University of Applied Sciences has been verified and recognised. It has been accredited and re-accredited by accreditation institutions, such as the German Council of Science and the Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat). It is currently only one of three universities in Berlin and Brandenburg whose system has been accredited by the FiBAA organisation (Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation). Thus, bbw University of Applied Sciences can give its students the assurance that their programme of study meets high quality standards.

In this regard, several speakers also addressed the results of the latest survey conducted by the university, which indicated that the drop-out rate of 5% at bbw University of Applied Sciences remains comparatively very low. 'This is not because we carry our students over the finishing line. Instead, we show them how they can achieve their goal through their own efforts by actively studying themselves. This means not only consuming knowledge, but actively acquiring it,' stressed Prof. Dr. Angelika Grunwald, the Dean of Studies. For their studies, students can use the university's own library or the libraries at other universities in Berlin as well as bbw's 'fib' Research Institute. For successful completion of the programme, it also definitely useful to form study groups with other students for studying purposes and for offering each other support.

Dr. Andreas Forner, the Managing Director of the bbw Group, also wished the newly matriculated students all the best for their studies. In his speech, he addressed the economic changes taking place between globalisation, industry 4.0 and demography, and he assured them that businesses expect 'graduates to be well-qualified people who can recognise complex interconnections and think pragmatically when they join their companies as specialists or assume managerial positions.' But they also have to bring 'important social virtues', such as 'being punctual and reliable, and having good intercultural skills'. Forner said, 'When you are finished with your studies, you will enter an employment market that needs you.' He also specifically addressed full-time students: 'Make use of theCareer Service Office at bbw University of Applied Sciences with its business contacts and make use of both student internships during your studies. Like a majority of your predecessors, don't just focus on getting a degree during your studies, but focus on what happens afterwards. The bbw University of Applied Sciences is here to help you with this.'

During the commencement party, the university administration also awarded three current students at bbw University of Applied Sciences a 'German scholarship' . This scholarship, which amounts to 300 euros a month, is awarded regardless of income and is financed equally by the Business Associations of Berlin-Brandenburg (UVB) and the German federal government. This scholarship is given not only students with exceptionally good marks, but also to students who show exceptional commitment to social causes, like doing volunteer work with disabled people or participating in forums and committees that work on social projects

The Managing Director of UVB, Sven Weickert, handed out certificates of the scholarship award to Konstantin Bednarz, Sebastian Krüger and in absentia, Christian Riedel, who is currently spending the semester abroad in China. The Vice-Chancellor of the university thanked the Business Associations for their support.

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bbw University of Applied Sciences, which is run by business for businesses in Berlin and Brandenburg, has become the largest, private, state-recognised university of applied sciences in Berlin and Brandenburg during the past eight years since its founding. bbw University of Applied Sciences offers a wide range of programmes of study, including Bachelor's and Master's programmes in economic sciences, engineering business management and engineering. It has been accredited and re-accredited by the German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat) and its system has been accredited by the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA). This makes bbw the only private university of applied sciences in Berlin and Brandenburg which has these three quality assurance verifications. The company within the bbw Group known as the 'bbw Akademie für Betriebswirtschaftliche Weiterbildung GmbH' is the non-profit organisation that runs the university.